Dough handling machine



May 24, 1949. H. w. MAULL ETAL DOUGH HANDLING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24. 1945 Patented May 24, 1949 UNITED if.

S PATENT OFFICE DOUGH HANDLING MACHINE tion of New York Application August 24, 1945, Serial No. 612,418

Claims.

The present invention relates to dough handling machinery and, more particularly, t0 such mechanism adapted for slashing and/or orienting elongated rolls of dough, e. g., dough for bakery products adapted for human consumption, such as coffee rings.

A general object of the present invention is the provision in such machinery of efcient and automatic means for forming slashes, preferably staggered, along elongated rolls of dough, and preferably extending substantially through the rolls from the top of the bottom sides thereof, as the rolls are moved along end on, which eliminates the necessity of manually performing such operations as is now common practice in making cinnamon coffee rings, thereby conserving man power and economizing in production in that such manual operations are time consuming and require skill, and in doing so accomplish the desired ends with precision frequently absent in present commercial procedures; and simple and effective means of orienting such rolls to end on positions as they are fed forward in transverse arrangement which may be dictated by apparatus and methods of handling for producing the elongated rolls characterized by certain desired features.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide such machinery characterized by means to move an elongated roll of dough forward in end on position to beneath rotatable slashing means to form a plurality of slashes, preferably staggered, along the dough roll as the latter is carried forward.

Another object of the invention is to provide in such machinery such slashing means which will be automatically operated when the dough carrying means is operated, and with the former preferably being driven from the latter.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means associated with such 'rotatable slashing means which will eiciently prevent in a simple manner a dough roll slashed thereby from sticking to the slashing means to be carried around therewith as the latter is rotated.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of means in the path of an elongated Vroll of dough being moved forward transversely of its path of movement which will automatically in a simple manner cause the dough roll to be oriented to be thereafter moved forward end on.

And a further object ofthe invention is to provide structural embodiments of the device which are readily constructed and allow eicient use and operation thereof.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplied in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken'in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view, with parts broken away, of apparatus embodying a form of the invention, depicting itin operation;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a product resulting from operation of the apparatus shown in Figs` 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan View of a cinnamon coffee ring resulting from the baking of a ring of dough which may be formed by twisting the slashed elongated dough roll shown in Fig. 3 and then curling it into C-shape and squeezing the ends together.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of a modified form of product resulting from operation of apparatus similar to that shown in Figs. l and 2 but with slashing knives arranged somewhat differently; and

Fig. 6 is a small plan view, with parts broken away, of apparatus somewhat similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 but with the addition of certain roll orienting means.

Prior to the present invention it has generally been the practice in commercial production of a certain bakery product known as coffee ring to perform at least most of the following or comparable steps manually. A piece of aged dough is iioured and rolled out into a large flat sheet which may resemble a pancake. This sheet of dough is then coated on its top surface with melted butter or other similar material and then sprinkled or spread with sugar and cinnamon or other flavoring materials. The sheet of dough so topped is then folded and rolled or coiled to form an elongated roll which may be about one and one-half feet (l1/2 ft.) long, more or less, and two or three inches (2-3 in.), more or less, in diameter. Some bakers so provide quite long elongated rolls and then transversely cut them up into subsections of such dimensions, while others start with smaller pieces of dough so that 3 each piece will provide an elongated roll of about that length. A skilled operator then, with a scraper (which is a thin flat substantially rectangular piece of metal having a sharp edge on one side and a hand grip on the opposite side) or with a knife, forms a plurality of cuts or slashes either longitudinally along lor 'diagonally across the elongated roll. The operator forms; these slashes deeply into the roll either entirely down through it or through a number of the laminations formed by the folding and rolling or coiling. He then lays his handson vtheopposite ends of the roll as it rests .upon a table 'surface, and twists it about itsaxis byrollingaway from himself with one hand and toward himself with the other hand. The slashed and twisted elongated roll is then curled around into C-shape, and the two ends brought y:to A"engagement vand joined together. 'I'he resultant ring, withinner plies exposed through the cuts or slashes by the twisting, vis then baked to produce .a ,product which llis quite familiar Ito the oonsumerjpublic. Such ,procedure requires a high *degree -of .skill .on lthepart of the-operator,.particularly if any speed of outputis l-to'be attained. Even with-the most l.highly skilled operators, 'the procedure is quite time consuming .and ,production is slow. "These and other difficulties of prior artpractices `are efciently minimized .or eliminated "by em- .ploymentof-appara'tus of '.the.present invention.

'An embodiment of the .present invention is shown'by wayo example 'intheattached draw- -ing wherein 'like numerals identify 'like .parts throughout. Asupport IIJ may comprise .an elongated table .top whichhas vatthe'input end, such as at the'left endo`f`the struotureshowninlgs. =1 and2, means lto-r1l out.a'lump .off vdough linto iiat pancake shape and "deliverit upon the receiving endof theupward run of an endless belt I'I traveling, .from Ile'ft .to .right in lFigs. l and 2, above the tabletop `I`0. 'The top surfaceo'f 'the atpancake-.of dough may thenbespread -with butter or theilike vand/or.suitably.sprinkled with cinnamon .and.-sugar. and .coiled an'd .worked `into :elongated rollformby .anysuitablemeans .which `mayinclude .a pressenplate I2 beneath wl'iichlthe roll of dough, when extending transversely .of the belt II, .isrolled .as it Nis-.carried `forwardby upward. runlof .the blt and, astalresult, `.properly elongated. The resultantfelongatedrollof dough, which .may .be similar .to .that fshown .at 'L3 .in Figs. l and '2, will 'be positioned transversely .of the `belt I.|.and willocmprise aspiraled structure .with each turn of .the spiral v.constituting v.a .ply

or lamination:ofdoughland .withitoppingmaterial such as cinnamon and.sugarinterposedbetween vthe `successive -plies .or -laminations .The :elongateddough .roll .I' .will .then :.be. carried forward to -the `structure of .the present invention.

In accordance vwith the .present -invention .the table-.top I0 lmay .support-a 4bracket I4 having an arm t5 :located above -the upward Irun vof `.the beltILandvextending toward, but short of the center .line-thereof. .The endofthearm Ier-near the-.centeriline `of the `belt I. I ysupports :above f the latter .a .shaft .I6 which may have a `reduced threaded --end IJ f engaged by a retaining nut I8 and -a .head I9,=shown in\dotte`dlinesfin Fig. 2. Afgrooved roller` or idler 20tisfmounted upon the shaftd fonfree rotation and heldwithtitsbottom end 2| spaced slightly above the .upper surface ofthe-.belt .H vto permit .free passage of .thelatter under the roller. A iiangef22 ls-.preferablyformed on fthe 1bottomfend `2-I Aof .the roller 2l) =to :tend

vbelt Il.

As indicated in Fig. 1, the roller is positioned toene -sideo'f the path 23 of the middle portion .at lhof the :dougholl I3, and preferably at a point .so .that .the :distance between path 23 and theicurvedssurface'Z of the roller 20 at the line of :contact 'insa fplane about half the depth of the roll is about one-half the width of the dough roll'so as'in'a'ctionto orient the dough roll longitudinally of the belt substantially along its center line, as will be more fully hereinafter explained.

Beyond .the iorienting .roller 20 .the .table I0 rotatablysupports lby .means .of .side .plates .26, 2B a,.pair of .stub shafts .2l'., .'21 which carry there- .between -a cylindrical .roller '258 .extending =trans versely .of and .above .the -upward .run .of ithe belt I'I. The roller28 which.constitutes;a..portion .of .the Islashing .means ,'fhas a .central `section 29 at Lleast about .as wideas `the width-.of -the .dough .roll .3 .andofafdiameter which will permit the 'latter to .pass tlrerebeneath .as it ,is `carried .for- .ward `end .on .by )the .belt I.I,. .Qn .both :sides of the .central .section @2li :are preferably ,provided .tight roller-surfacing bands 30 and 3d Aof any suitable material,l such asA belt .webbing .ornanvas, and .the .axis .of Atheroller 28 is .arranged at fa height `above `the .surface -sof the upward .run ,of ,the A.belt :III .a distance permitting lirictional con- .tact Abetween the .beltsurfaoe `and .the surfaces of `the :bands-.3B .and .e I. As -.a.1=esult, with ithe stub .shafts :2.1, 27 .mounted .for xfreerrotation .on .the side supportingplatesdl, 26,1.when1the-Lupward .runof the `belt I-IAis:movediorward-traveling.from left 4to .right in Figs. 1 .and .-2, the roller f28`will be .rotated =in l:a '.'counterclooltwise direction. :It .willlbe understood, however, lthat Iinsteadaof-.driving'. roller.28 `in this lmanner'direct1y1fr-om .thebelt II, separate means such as pulleys and ibelts, sprocket andchainsfor Vthe .likegmaybezemployed .which wiIkdrivethe y.roller-2Min .the .properzdirection .-from i driving mechanism -or the power nunit employed sto operate other A:parts vloi? the machine, `includingvthefbelt I Ifiorifrom a separate rpower source.

Arranged about the reduced midsectinnzof .roller 28 -are a Apluralityfuf I.curved :or f-arcuately shaped :knives or .blades 32-3 2, 1preferably fthre'e in number, :laterally -spaced -apart fas :shown zv in Fig. .1, with teach .extending V`1circumferentially :of the cylindrical :midsection -through=arradial^fangle of .about .240?. :Each blade has .its leading tend located about 1201-aheadcof @the leading' end mi the znext'adjacentuolad'e. :Asi-ra result, thezthree blades or ,knives -IL3'2-32 'fare arranged iin Sstaggered. fashion. :In 1'the ,.pref erred -f orm f-th'e blades are obliquely :arranged :about :the slashing :roller .preferably -iwith the planerofseachfblade :disposed at -i anx-angle .ofi about 115'.to ya planenormfal to tthe roller .axis. In iaddition, :each ibladle :or @knife tis of VaA :depth rso that ithe :sharp redgeztnereofwliich is arranged non `.th-e `circunifererme :of :a :circle ris approximately linz-line 1.withith'e-zcurvedtsurfacefof the -slashin'gzrollerfor,:moreszspecfically, .thefouter surfaces. of the .bands 536 and .3| arranged ithereabout.

Beyond the slashing imeans :comprising (the roller 28 and knives 32-32 is mounted, preferably by side support plates 26, 26, a picker means adapted to prevent a dough roll when passed beneath the slashing means from sticking or adhering to the knives and, in the rotation of the latter, to be carried up and around with the slashing roller device. Such picker means may comprise a shaft 33 mounted transversely of and above the belt II, being preferably rotatably supported by the side plates 26, 26. The rotatable shaft 33 has xed thereto opposite the central portion 29 of the roller 28 and the knives 32--32 a plurality of fingers 34-34 which, in the pre- Kferred form, extend radially outwardly from the shaft and with each provided with a nose 35 turned substantially at right angles thereto, and

extending away from the direction of rotation to.

avoid digging into and retaining dough material as shown in Fig. 2. The fingers 34--34 are of such length as to have their noses 35-35 during rotation pass closely adjacent to the paths of the circular cutting edges of the knives 32-32 but with some clearance, preferably at least an eighth of an inch '8") The picker shaft 33 may be rotated in any suitable manner, such as by means of belts and pulleys, sprockets and chains, and the like, from any portion of the machine as desired, or from the power source. Preferably, however, for reasons of simplicity 'the picker shaft 33 is driven from the slashing roller 28. For this purpose a pulley 38 is fixed to the picker shaft 33 and an endless belt 3l is trained about the pulley and the roller 28. In providing the band 30 on the roller 28, if the former is made of an axial length appreciably shorter than that portion of the roller 28 which is on the same side of the midsecton 28 thereof, a section 38 of the roller will be left uncovered by the band 30 and will thus be of less diameter than the compositor roller and band assembly. This permits the belt 31 to be trained about the section 38 of the roller 28 without interfering with the desired contact between the banded portions of the roller and the feed belt II. Accordingly, the picker shaft 33 will be driven in the same direction, say counter-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 2, as the slashing roller 28, and if the belt 31 is made of the same thickness as the bands 30 and 3|, it is believed to be obvious that the belt 3l will also travel in contact with the top surface of the belt I I beneath the section 38 of the roller. As a result, it may be considered that the picker shaft 33 is driven by the belt 31 directly from the feed belt II, and also indirectly therefrom through roller 28.

In operation, an elongated roll of dough I3, when it reaches a position such as that depicted at X in full lines in Fig. 1, will be carried forward while being arranged transversely of the upward reach of the belt I I. Eventually that portion 39 of the elongated dough roll I3 which is on the same side of the midpoint 24 of the dough roll and center line of the upward run of the feed belt Il as the orienting roller 20 will be brought to contact or engagement with the latter, with a greater portion of the dough roll extending on one side of the roller than on the other. Upon further forward lmovement of the feed belt II, such as to the right as viewed in Fig. 1, the longer end I8 of the dough roll I3 will be dragged forward by the feed belt and, since the roller 20 is mounted for free rotation, the latter will gradually turn to permit the dough roll to pass it and in doing so orient the dough roll to a positionsubstantially aligned with the path of movement or the center line of the upward run of the belt II.

In Fig. 1 is shown in dotted lines at Y substantially the position of the dough roll just after contact with the orienting roller 20 and as its longer end 40 is being dragged forward by the belt II. In that figure the position of the dough roll after further movement forward of the upward reach of the belt II is indicated in dot-dash lines at Z, which shows that the longer end 40 of the dough roll, after orientation, is being fed directly to the central portion 29 of the slashing roller 28 and the oblique knives 32-32 carried thereby.

With the elongated dough roll I3 oriented longitudinally of the upward run of the belt II, it is carried forward end on to beneath the central section 29 of the slashing roll 28 and, as it passes thereunder, the knives 32-32 slash down through the roll, providing a plurality of slashes obliquely along the roll which, due to the preferred arrangement of the knives, will be staggered as indicated in Fig. 3, the slashed elongated dough roll therein being identified by the numeral- 4| and the staggered slashes being identified by the numeral 42. Since it is preferred to have the slashes 42--42 extend substantially down through the elongated dough roll 4I, the peripheral cutting edges are, as indicated above, located substantially at the same radial distance from the center of the slashing roll 28 as are the cylindrical surfaces of the slashing roll which are in engagement with the top surface of the upward run of the belt II. The blades 32-32 should be soarranged as to prevent complete transverse severance of the elongated roll I3 and thus as shown in Fig. 3 the slashes 42-42 do not extend completely to the opposite sides of roll 4I but may extend completely down through it from top to bottom. Further, with the blades 32`32 each extending two hundred and forty degrees (240) they preferably are so staggered as to assure arrangement of slashes 42-42 shown in Fig. 3 whereby a transverse plane at A will intersect one slash and at least substantially meet with an end of each of the two adjacent slashes. In any other transverse plane such as at B two slashes are intersected.

It is believed to be obvious that if slashes of lesser depth are desired, this may be readily accomplished by knives of less radial dimension.

Further, although three knives are preferred, a

fewer or greater number thereof may be eniployed, as desired. Additionally, although it is preferred to arrange the knives in staggered formation to produce staggered slashes and to extend the knives about the periphery of that portion of the slashing roller on which they are mounted to the extent indicated above, it is believed to be obvious that other desired variations in relative arrangement of the blades and lengths thereof may be adopted within the scope of the invention.

The elongated dough roll I3, after it is passed beneath the slashing means, comprising the slashing roller 28, by the forward movement o f the upward or top run of the belt II, is carried forward to a delivery point where an operator twists it longitudinally about its axis in the man- `ner indicated above, then curls it to C-shape and pinches the ends together to form a ring. This vring is then baked to produce an edible product which is so similar to that producible by the now common manual operations, a form of which is pictorially vshown by way of example in Fig. i and identified by the numeral 43, as to resemble far-mere ithae fname 'so closely #that ivisually tl'iey `cannet vlsloe z,distinguished,v

mpassage oatheelongateddough roll tnbeneath #the :slashingkniveszM--l :there :mayfat itimesibe :tendency 'for :the xinugh Lto :cling :to fthe afknivres amd :the rdough :1011 :to be drawn mpwardly sand :around tthe neortion 29 `of the slashing 1011er nB. .Ein :orderto savnid this :dicultyithe picker mmans minimising stile -ngers 3l-1&4 :are :rotated `anillaentrto aantifopposite rtheiknires ein a rdinexztinmso tthatithe ,'.fpiker .ngers erre inroyng :downwardly zusrtheknives arefmnving aipwariilyzin'ithe lonalty .of adjacency. iAccordingl-y, 4if lat any dirne fthe liloue'hiroll or zany pnrtion .,thereo tends :to tiling :to :like hnives Y 32-i32 rrn itheir .upward 2mm/rement, tthre :picker singers I 3.4-.1-34 :in moving .downwardly mlllipush the-dough troll diff ythe fkn'iwes haokmnto theznnward ioritop run-of theme11; ilil 'soithatf-iihe latter :may inea-ry the .slashed :elongated dough :rnlltlll orward*toiitszdeliveryinoint.

.Itiisdzoibeiunderstoodfthat:although'thetobliqne anx-rangement of 1.the *knives or ,bla-des S12- .32 renown :in :Fig il is `prefl erred in -;or.der `,to iprovide ithemhliqueislezshesiindicatedinfl'ig..Bethepresent :invention may he 7practiced 1h51 arranging et'he i .o

rhnives ror xblades :in :parallel fplanes .substantially :nunmalfito ,theaaxisof the'slashing roller .28. will j produce slashes along :an elongated "dough nrollwhichterepsubstantiallyparalle1 to eachzother ianiitheraxislof :the roll, sasfshovtnin Eig. Flhat ill) elongated dough :roll #Ml .-is :shown provided ...with

. gilurelity tof .slashes Mk2-m2, each of which extends ;alon gtthe.do1igh troll suhstantialy Dartaliel Lto tthe taxis lthereof. 5in `.such case :itlis falso preferred :that [the :blades tbe :staggered .so :that :therslashesiformed willibe staggereduch :esln athefashion shownliniilig. llhe resultinglpmdniet, comprising -aeloneated :slashed roll :of idonghgmay thenrhe Lhandled infthexmannzerzproposed hoveiin conneetion'lwiththelnroductrshown .inEig Bisotas \t,o-. produce :a .coiee :ringsimilarzo ithatsshowndnxlfigin.

fthe. orenting. rolleriZD [has loeenzfnund ito `v:he `eiicient in iorienting @or :turning la =transwemelt! positioned elongated adough lrollfsubstanitillynhroughsan angle of lninety :degrees :,(HO-f) .solas .to be arranged longitudinally nponarhelt marrying .it ,forwardiitihas `:heen found that snp- ;nlementary .means may 'he employed :to advantage. suchimeanslare.proposedin Fignfi, whereintasslas'hingnioller 28 .is-shown xt o :be @dumped with aipluralityioffslashingfknivesf [Zt-2- m2 which .are arranged in clanes substantially :normal lto lthe .existof lthe yslashing roller tiniaccordance-.with :the imdifld -above. hvionsly, "anyiother'blade @arrangement encheres .thatfsuegestedfin Fig. il., amay he used.

:all tether .respects :the apparatus may dee .similarato ,that .showniin .Rigs :l land i2 except .ifor the isnnplementary fdedgh .fr oll :orienting :mea-ns i413 which :may comprise .ya -b el.t pulley roi' :roller T4 xed upon a driving shaft 45 mountetlznpon tthelframe Work .of .thennaohine. and driven nany 'suitable :mannen Tsuch eas from fthe nneans .-used to drh/e ithe -helt All. :rotatably supported above the belt 'lil in any -suitable..manner, .suehfas byashaft dil mounted :In any cprnper ...manner .upon :suitable iorerhead structure, Asuch as fa .-bracket, similar nto :that :at

fllhemnlcyed to.support,onientingirollfz. Arbeit mils trained about .thepulleys will end 46,;and wwithgpnlley `ll.ll..d1:itzen `in ief clockwise fdirnctioniiihze muntdfrthebeltdll on l.the :approachside will itravel iowarii the ibladecariyine, .reducedimidsectionld slagsliinairller.

:arrangement o'f :knives mloposed Another pulley '.46 .rmay 'sbe fmeans,;arrd..means Lto vrotate .said ,roller .'ln .ope1ation.-..of the :structure :shown in Fig. :6, awhen an elongated dough :roll :arranged Atransverselyof thebelt :irl .ais marriedonwardtocengage the '.orienting .froller 220, iit will assume :the dotted iline :position rshown et?, vand at such time fits forward end 1M) wvill :the .engaged :by the forwardly .traveling frun tof the .'.orienting belt .48 l'on ith-e tepproachfside, thereafter to bepositivelymushed droWa-rd'thefzcenter dine-'of ithe belt l'l intoft'he dotidash position shown at with ithe forward tend iei v.the elongated troll :being directed :towardzthe :slashingkn-ives.

.-AsfshoWn in lEig. $l,.the. arm .t5 which -supports the vcnientirng:roller f2 may :be provided with .a xlpngitudinallyextending slotnsuchas that shown :at '48 .so .fas adjustably to :receive .the post 116 twhereby the latter and the -orienting nzoller :2D .-monnted thereon may .be )moved rlaterally or transversely :of :therbelt H to avariety:.of;posi .tions litfhenfthe vknurled mut .il 8 iseloosened. After later-alfadjustmentof the roller :20 .toaselected position 7it `may :be locked -in .such position by .tightening nut 4.8. .SuchedjustmentWlhet least permit ready adaptation toelongetedfdenghrrolls VaIyngtindi-arneter.

.Although -a ,preferred embodiment .of the ,presn .ent invention ,has been :devised )for .ecient femployment .in .connection with ,the ,production of edible cinnamon coffee rngsit.is obviousthatithc Ause thereof, .or `df .modified .'"forms ,within the rscnpe yof the invention, 'is .not .Ilimited .to `such production since doughs of other character I.or other doughy 'materials may .be handled in part lor' wl'lolly 'in similar. fashion `.by apparatus of Hpresentinvention.

fltfwill thus She "seen that 'the dlijects .seit (forth tabove vand those lmade vapparent in lthe precedlingrdescriptien, among'oth'ers, 'are attained lin an Le'iiieient manner, -end since certain 4clfzengesmay ihe `'made Jin `fthe Labove lconstructi-on and difierent embodiments of the invention Acouldbemade iwithout ldeparting ffrom :the scope nthereo'f, -it is intended :that `all i matter contained in the above :description orfshown iin :the accompanyingdrawinge-shall the interpreted zas iillustrat'ive and not `'in failimiting sense.

It is :also .to the V:understood fthat ithe 11following :claims :are :intended :to cover .all :of -the generic rand sspecc features :if 'the :invention "hereindescribed, ,and allfstatements l:of :the scopelof fthe .invention which, -zas a .matter 'of llanguage, :might befsaidto frallatherebetween.

Havingdescribediourfinventien, Whatawe claim -.as.new.end.desire .tossecure by Letters ePatentis: y L1. In ,a 'dough troll. handling machine ith-.e onm- "bination comprising, transport dneensxtoffeedran elongated rollofdough end on and-zcarrylitffor- :ward .at .-a ...certain linea-r ,speed :rotatable :roller 'means .mounted `a distance fabove :said :transport Jn'eans .sucient .to tpermit thedoughfroll to pass Ltherebeneath, Ia plurality of `knives .mounted on and extendingloeripherallylofiand -ipertly around :saidroller means with. Seidl-knives beingarranged ibliquely .with respect `to 'the ,axis fof said .roller .meansfat ra speed :that will causcsadlknives .to :be :rotated fat -a 'circumferential speed substantially .equal -to ithe `mentioned :linear speed to .form .a plurality -o'f longitudinally-extending `obllqne .slashes .extending along `the y.dough :roll as the latter .is carried forward beneath zsaid .roller means.

in a dough roll nhandling machine the .comibmation fcomprising, -transport: means toieed .an elongated :rollfof #dough rend on Aand 'carryit .forward zat :a :certain 4linear speed, .zrutetalole roller means :mounted fe ldistance 'above said transport means suiilcient to permit the dough roll to pass therebeneath, a plurality of knives mounted cn and extending peripherally of and partly around said roller means with said knives being circumferentially staggered with respect to each other and arranged obliquely with respect to the axis of said roller means, and means to rotate sai-d roller means at a speed that will cause said knives to be rotated at a circumferential speed substantially equal to the mentioned linear speed to form a plurality of longitudinally-extending staggered oblique slashes extending along and substantially through the dough roll as the latter is carried forward beneath said roller means.

3. In a dough roll handling machine the combination comprising, transport means to feed an elongated roll of dough end on and carry it forward at a certain linear speed, rotatable roller means mounted a distance above said transport means sufcient to permit the dough roll to pass therebeneath, a plurality of knives mounted on said roller means with each knife extending peripherally about 240 around said roller means, and means to rotate sai-d roller means at a speed that will cause said knives to be rotated at a circumferential speed substantially equal to the mentioned linear speed to form a plurality of longitudinally-extending slashes along the dough roll as the latter is carried forward beneath said roller means.

4. In a dough roll handling machine the combination comprising, transport means to feed an elongated roll of dough end on and carry it forward at a certain linear speed, rotatable roller means mounted a distance above said transport means suiicient to permit the dough roll to pass therebeneath, a plurality of obliquely arranged knives mounted on said roller means with each knife extending peripherally about 240 around said roller means and circumferentially staggered with respect to each other and means to rotate said roller means at a speed that will cause said knives to be rotated at a circumferential speed substantially equal to the mentioned linear speed to form a plurality of longitudinally-extending staggered oblique slashes along the dough roll as the latter is carried forward beneath said roller means.

5. In a dough roll handling machine the combination comprising, transport means to feed an elongated roll of dough end on and carry it forward atl a certain linear speed, rotatable roller means mounted a distance above said transport means suiiicient to permit the roll to pass therebeneath, a plurality of knives mounted on said roller means with each knife extending about 240 peripherally of said roller means, and means to rotate said roller means at a speed that will cause said knives to be .rotated at a circumferential speed substantially equal to the mentioned linear speed, said knives being of such radial dimension as to form a plurality of longitudinally spacedapart slashes extending along and substantially through the dough roll as the latter is carried forward beneath said roller means.

6. In a dough roll handling machine the combination comprising, transport means to feed an elongated roll of dough end on and carry it forward at a certain linear speed, rotatable roller means mounted a distance above said transport means sufficient to permit the roll to pass therebeneath, a plurality of curved knives arranged in separate parallel planes all substantially normal to the axis of said roller means and circumferentially staggered with respect to each other,

said knives being mounted 'on said roller means with each knife extending about 240 peripherally of said roller means, and means to rotate said roller means at a speed that will cause said knives to be rotated at a circumferential speed substantially equal to the mentioned linear speed, said knives being of such radial ldimension as to form a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart staggered slashes extending along and substantially through the dough roll as the latter is carried forward beneath said roller means.

'7. In a dough handling machine the combination comprising, an endless belt having a run adapted to feedv an elongated roll of dough end on and carry it forward, rotatable roller means mounted above said belt run with the cylindrical surface of a portion thereof in contact with said belt whereby the latter may drive the former, said roller means having another portion of smaller diameter with its cylindrical surface spaced a distance above said belt run suicient to permit the dough roll to pass therebeneath, and a plurality of knives mounted on and extending peripherally of andv partly around said smaller portion of said roller means to form slashes along the dough roll as the latter is carried forward by said belt run. A

I8. In a dough handling machine the combination comprising, anA endless belt having a run adapted to feed an elongated roll of dough end on and carry it forward, rotatable roller means mounted above said belt run with the cylindrical surface of a portion thereof in contact with said belt whereby the latter may drive the former, said roller means having another portion of smaller diameter with its cylindrical surface spaced a distance above said belt run suficient to permit the dough roll to pass therebeneath, and a plurality of knives mounted on and extending peripherally of and partly around said'smaller portion of said roller means with the major portions of the cuttingedges of said blades being substantially aligned with the cylindrical surface of the larger portion lof said roller means to form slashes extending along and substantially through the dough roll as the latter is carried forward by said belt run.

l9. In a doughhandling machine the combination comprising, an `endless belt having a run adapted to feed an elongated roll of dough end on and carry it forward, rotatable roller means mounted abovesaid belt run with the cylindrical surface of a portion thereof incontact with said belt whereby the latter may drive the former, said roller means having another portion of smaller diameter With its cylindrical surface spaced a distance above said belt run lsuincient to permit the dough roll to pass therebeneath, and a plurality of staggered obliquely arranged knives mounted on and extending peripherally of and partly around said smaller portion of said roller means with the major portions of the cutting edges of said blades being substantially aligned with the cylindricalsurface of the larger portion of said roller means to form staggered oblique slashes extending `along and substantially through the dough roll as the latter is carried forward by said belt run.

10. In a dough handling machine the combination comprising, an endless belt having a run adaptedto feed an elongated roll of dough end on and carry it forward, rotatable roller means mounted above said belt run with the cylindrical surface of a portionv thereof in conta-ct with said belt whereby the latter may drive the former, said amanda:

roller means.- having.l another pontionf. etl smaller diameter with its-eylindiiicai= surface spaced. adistantel above said: belt'inuxr. sufficient .-to l permit the dough roll -topass thereberieatlrand a-.plurality of staggered curved knivesarranged in separate parallel planes=allasubstantially;normal.tothe` axis of said roller means@eachmfii said knives being mountednon .andvextendingfaboutZlOi periphera-lly ofsaid: roller meafnstwithithe; major. pur--v tions. ofthe cutting; edges.i being.: substantially aligned with the cylindrical. sfurf'eeot.- theV larger portion of said:Y roller; forma. staggered slashes extendingalongandrsubstantially, through the dough. roll. asfthe. latterl is carriedf forwardby saidbelt runl1; In: av doughtroll handlingmachinethe. combination= -comprisingmeansi toeieedianf elongatedroll of dough end orrandtoa-rry it vioiiwarzl,,rotatable roller meansmounted@ a: distance: above said means sulicientf to per-mit|` the.' doughflroll tofpassv` therebeneathg, aJ pluralityy ot` lmirese mountedvv on? and' extending per-ipherally and: partly. around saidA roller. meansito. iernrslashesalong the .dough 1 roll as the latter is carriedzfenward beneath; said roller means; rotatable picker means mountedabovev said" feed-means and arranged beyondsaid knives, and means to rotate said pickermeanszin the direction of.v rotation of: saidrilenivessto yprevent the dough roll-fromrclinginggt andlbeingif rotated around with` saidknives..

12. In a` doughzrnllihandlingffmaehinethe.com-

bination: comprising'.l me'ansfitbifeed-ian:elongatedl rolloi.- dough end; ontanrimarra'ittonwardf,V rota-ta@ ble roller means mounted. ai. distance: above said.l

means suicienttaper-mitz-therolhtbpassf there` beneath, a plurality,` off knives mounted orrsaid roller means witltl eaolrkniileiextendingabout 240? peripherally of: saidf roller means and being or' such radial. dimension` as? tutor-.mi slashes extending along` andsubstantiallyf through the;` dough .5

adapted toY feed' an elongated rioll?` of dough; end

on and carry itiorward,.4 rotatable rollerI means' mounted.` above? saidf..belt:. rniawithi the-.cylindrical surface ofa portion. thereof'imcontact withsaid beltwhereby the latterl mais` drive-@the former,

saldi roller` means-e` having. another portion ofy f smaller`- diameter.` with; itsi cylindrical: surface spaced. a distance above.' said-i beltrun.. sufficient topermit the dough.rollttafpasswtherebeneath; a

plurality ofv` staggered ourved.r knives. arranged substantially paralleltos each other` andobliquely with respect. tothe axis. otsai'droller-means, each of said knives .Y being mounted. on and.. extendingv about. 240' peripheral-ily. ot'saidlroll'rimeans. withthev maior. portions. ofthe cutting-l edges being. substantially alignedwiththe. cylindrical. surface oi thev larger -portion ofsaid roller. means. toform staggeredy oblique. slashes extending along.. and substantially through the dough roll as thelatt'er is carried, forward by said belt.` rum. rotatable picker means mounted above-'.saidl'beltrun. and.

arrangedbeyond .said-linivesyand meanstorotate.

saidpickermeansimtherdirectionz.off rotation of.

saidiknives. tofpreventth'ei' doughLrollfiom clingingtoand being, rotatedfaroundwith said knives.

14. Inaldough .rollfliandling-zmachne.thefcoml lf2 bination comprising,.transportmeansrtofmove for.- ward' along a laterally-extending pathlan.y elongated roll of. dough*whenlarranged.thereon-to.extend substantiallyV transverselyof.the. direction: of forward motion, a roller.' mounted above said transport means 'in the path ofthe dough-roll with it's'- axis extendingv upwardly substantiallye normal` tothat path, alaterally-extending flange onthe bottom end oi said'roller. locatedrelatively-close to-the path, and means supporting saidrroller for free rotation about its-axisandftoV one side: ofthe center ofthe path ofdougl'nroll. movement-'solas to assure al greater length of. doughrolltoone side of the point of engagement thereof. withisaid-roller than tothe other. side thereof` so thatrv the dough roll will: whenv moved forward along. thepath be caused toclimb uponto saidroller flange and be dragged around said roller.' by' saidv transport substantially normal to the upward runv of said belt, a laterally-extending ange onthe bottom end of said roller locatedlrelativelyclosefto the.

path; and` rneanssupporting, said.roller :for` free rotation aboutv its" aX-is andtof one. side of the. center of the path. of dough roll=movement so..

as toassure a'greaterlengtnofdoughroll tofone side ot the point of engagement` thereof: with said.- roller than' to the other. side thereof softhat the doughv roll will. when.- moved forward along the path be caused. to climbfup ontol said roller flange and be dragged aroundfsaidrollerbysaidy endless belt to vbeI orientedA tofsubstantial parallelism withthe directionoimotion for end'onvmovef menta 16; Ina dough handling machine the combinartion comprising, an endless belt having a` topsubstantially horizontal run; means. toposition an elongated roll of dough on said upwardrun with its axis extending: substantiallyY transversely of saidbelt, an1orienting. roller mounted above said-runV in the path; of.V saidY roll and. to one-'side ofthe'padthffof the midde of said vroll-when carried;

forward. by; said; run tov cause saldi roll' to: be oriented for longitudinal endiony forward: movement, a-laterally-exten'ding flange-onf the bottomv end-of said rollerV locatedrelativelyl close tot the' top runof said belt with. the top' surface ofsaid flange ourved'upwardlyJ to smooth: mer-.gencewithA thesurface of said rol1`er,.and means supporting.v said. roller for free rotation; abouti' its axis. with? the latter arrangedv substantially'v normal to the4 surface of said run;

17. In a dough'handlingmachinezthe" combina"- tiony comprising, an endless.' belt havingv a top substantially horizontal'. run; means* to-l position.

an elongatedroll of' dough. ori. saidi upward'v run with its axis extending'. substantially' transversely. of said belt,r anorienting roller mounted' above said run in the path-of saidfrolliandftoone side of` the path' ofV the middle of: said roll when carried. forward by'said runztofcause saidroll to beoriented for end on forwardmovement, means supporting said roller for free-rotation. about its axis with the latter. arranged.substantiallyfnormal to-the surface ofl saidY run; and rotatable slashingv means mounted above said run to receive said roll therebeneath after orientation to end on position and to form slashes along said roll as the latter is carried beneath said slashing means by said belt.

18. In a dough handling machine the combination comprising, an endless belt having an upward substantially horizontal run, means to position an elongated roll of dough on said upward run with its axis extending substantially transversely of said belt, an orienting roller mounted above said run in the path of said roll and to one side of the path of the middle of said roll when carried forward by said run to cause said roll to be oriented for end on forward movement, means supporting said roller for free rotation about its axis with the latter arranged substantially normal to the surface of said run, and a plurality of rotatable staggered curved knives mounted above said run to receive said roll therebeneath after orientation. to end on position and to form a plurality of staggered slashes along said roll as the latter is carried beneath said rotatable knives by said belt.

19. In a dough roll handling machine the combination comprising, means to carry forward an elongated roll of dough when arranged thereon to extend substantially transversely of the direction of forward motion, an orienting roller mounted above said means in the path of the dough roll with its axis located substantially normal to that path, means supporting said roller for free rotation about its axis and to one side of the center of the path of dough roll movement so as to assure a greater length of dough roll to one side of the point of engagement thereof with said roller than to the other side thereof so that the dough roll will be dragged around said roller by said roll moving means to be oriented to substantial parallelism with the direction of motion for end on movement, and a cross-belt arranged above said roll-carying means to have its run on the approach side moved toward the central portion of said roll-carrying means to assist said orienting roller in its action.

20. In a dough roll handling machine the combination comprising, laterally-extending transport means to carry forward an elongated roll of dou-gh of appreciable diameter in end on position, means to drive said transport means at a certain linear speed, rotatable roller means mounted above said transport means with its axis extending transversely of the latter, means rotatably supporting said roller means at a substantial fixed distance above said transport means suicient to permit the dough roll to pass freely therebeneath, a plurality of axially-spaced knives mounted on and extending radially outward, peripherally of and only partly around said roller means to slash longitudinally down into the dough roll as the latter is carried therebeneath, said knives having their leading and trailing ends transversely staggered with respect to each other so that the slashes will be transversely staggered in overlapping relation longitudinally of the dough roll, and means to rotate said roller means at a speed which causes said knives to be rotated at a circumferential speed substantially equal to the mentioned linear speed to form the staggered longitudinally-extending slashes in the dough roll as it is moved therebeneath at substantially the same speed whereby the slashes formed by any one knife are discontinuous, the arrangement of said knives being of a pattern which avoids connection of slashes made by any one knife with the slashes made by any other knife.

HARRY W. MAULL. JOSEPH H. SAUTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 614,338 Perky Nov. 15, 1898 883,370 Wood Mar. 31, 1908 1,176,648 Callow et al Mar. 21, 1916 1,402,923 Dempsey 1 Jan. 10, 1922 1,565,887 Andrus Dec. 15, 1925 2,104,205 Menapace et al Jan. 4, 1938 2,232,832 Walborn Feb. 25, 1941 2,349,829 Nydegger et al May 30, 1944 

